With each passing moment, I know the clock is ticking down. My bags are packed and waiting in the living room. My outfit for today is folded on the chair, just waiting for me to dress and walk out of The Gables and Lincoln Riscoff’s life forever.

When the room is bathed in yellow, I know I can’t put it off any longer. It’s time.

I roll out from under his hand, grab my clothes, and sneak into the bathroom. I wash my face, swipe on just enough makeup to get by, dress, and open the door just as silently as I entered.

I tiptoe out into the bedroom, but the bed is empty. Lincoln’s gone.

Did he run when he had the chance?

I walk into the living room and find him standing by the door, his arms crossed.

“What the hell is this?” He jerks his head toward my suitcases.

I swallow. “I told you. I have to go.”

“And last night? What the fuck was that?”

“Good-bye,” I say, a hint of shame wrapping around me.

Lincoln shakes his head. “No. No more fucking good-byes. You leave? I leave. That’s how this works, Blue.”

“You can’t. You have a life here. A family that loves you—”

“And so do you.”

The man is impossible. I look up at the ceiling, find my confidence, and stare him down again. “I can’t stay here and drive a wedge between you and your mother. I won’t.”

Lincoln’s hard expression doesn’t shift. “And I’m done letting other people manipulate our lives to keep us apart. I’m fucking done. You leave, I leave. End of story.”

“I’m not worth it.” My voice breaks on the last word.

Lincoln’s arms fall to his sides. “Bullshit.” He strides toward me, his hands going out to cup my cheeks. “You’re worth everything. Every-fucking-thing. I have fucked up over and over again when it comes to you, and I’m not doing it again. I felt it last night. You felt it too.”

My lip trembles. “I told you, that was good-bye.”

“No, it wasn’t.” He looks at my suitcases. “You need to get out of Gable? You need to get out of this fucking hotel and away from this madness? I can do that. I will do that.”

He releases my cheeks and whips out his phone, tapping the screen a few times before lifting it to his ear. “Fuel up the chopper. I want it on the helipad at The Gables in thirty minutes or less. I’m going to Blue House.”

“What are you doing?”

Lincoln smiles. “Getting us both the hell out of here. I told you . . . you leave, I leave.”

“Lincoln!”

He shakes his head, and I recognize the stubborn look on his face. “You’re not getting rid of me this time, Blue. Not a fucking chance. We’re in this together. Whatever comes next, we face it together.”

I swallow because I love the sound of that. I want it to be that easy.